Yes, Georganne - he passed away on Christmas-eve morning.

John (aka Ferret) on the forum was a good friend, and was one of the first folks to welcome me to the forum.    He was a very regular contributor until about a year or so ago, when his illness started to get the better of him.

John even took the time to call me on landline all the way from Aussie land on several occasions - and once - thanks to Facebook - I knew his birthday had been just a few days earlier - so I played "Happy Birthday" over the 'phone !

I liked John a lot and his various construction projects - and I - as will many other members who knew him, will miss him !

He happens to still be on the top-ten-list of forum contributors - so - before he is overtaken by another - here's a view of his activity on the forum for posterity....

Thanks for "starting a thread" on the subject - it was in my mind, and indeed I have a fiddle tune just about written in his memory - I shall of course share it here sometime soon... 

Thanks for mentioning this @Georganne - it's appreciated